Gary Corby: The Ionia Sanction

“Agreed. As long as you don’t tell anyone I screamed when I was about to die on the pole.”

“Consider it forgotten. And if you could forget about Asia’s illegitimate parentage-”

“Done. If you don’t tell anyone I almost went over to the Persians.”

“Agreed. And if you could keep the secret of Mnesiptolema and Archeptolis and their … er … unusual habits-”

“Oh no!” I protested. “That one I’ll be retelling at symposia for years to come.”

Cleophantus laughed. “I don’t like them either. All right Nico, it’s a deal.”

So many secrets to be kept, and one more. I would never reveal, not even to Diotima, that Asia had insisted she be the one to poison Themistocles. She had avenged her true father against the man who killed him. It would remain our secret, for the sake of her relationship with her brothers and sisters, and to enable her to find a husband in the future, and even for her own safety.

I said, “I’m sorry about Asia, but it was the only way. “

Cleophantus nodded. “We’ll do our best to help her. I’m sorry too, Nico, about the letter. If we’d never sent it, you wouldn’t have been drawn here and endangered, and Thorion would still be alive.”

“And Hellas might have fallen to the Persians. Don’t be sorry. Thorion died defending Athens as surely as any man in the front rank of the army. When I return I’ll be sure to tell his son so.” It would make all the difference for him and his family.

Cleophantus said, “May the Gods favor you.” We hugged.

Diotima walked out of the front entrance of the palace. She smiled at me and said, “Are we ready to go, Nico?”

I took her hand. “We’re ready, my wife.”